14 Day New Zealand Vista Independent Coach

Arrive in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, where sparkling harbours, volcanic cones, and lively neighbourhoods create a memorable introduction to the country. Spend the rest of the day settling in or heading out to enjoy the waterfront atmosphere, excellent dining, and vibrant inner-city energy.

Included: Private transfer from Auckland Airport to accommodation
Enjoy a seamless arrival with a private transfer directly to your hotel in the city. This comfortable service takes the stress out of your first day and allows you to begin your New Zealand journey feeling relaxed and well looked after.

Suggested Activity: Harbour Sailing Dinner Cruise
Step aboard for a memorable evening on the Waitematā Harbour, where Auckland’s skyline, marina lights, and surrounding waters create a beautiful setting for dinner. As you sail across the harbour, you can enjoy a relaxed dining experience paired with ever-changing views of the city as it shifts from sunset colours to sparkling night lights.

Suggested Activity: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Experience
Go behind the scenes of movie-making in an imaginative, immersive experience filled with practical effects, large-scale sets, and cinematic surprises around every corner. This is a fantastic option for film lovers and curious travellers alike, offering a playful and highly visual look at the artistry, creativity, and technical skill behind screen entertainment.

Suggested Activity: All Blacks Experience
Discover the passion, pride, and cultural significance behind one of New Zealand’s most iconic sporting teams through a highly interactive and engaging attraction. With powerful audio-visual displays, rugby challenges, and stories of legendary players and unforgettable moments, this experience offers a deeper understanding of the country’s sporting identity.

Travel south through the rolling green landscapes of the Waikato, where rich farmland and pretty rural towns set the tone for the day ahead. Today combines one of New Zealand’s most famous film locations with the geothermal and cultural heart of the North Island.

Included: Small group tour from Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton Movie Set
Visit the enchanting Hobbiton Movie Set, where carefully crafted details, picturesque gardens, and charming hobbit holes bring Middle-earth vividly to life. The guided tour offers fascinating stories from the filming process while also showcasing the beauty of this iconic rural setting before you continue on to Rotorua.

Suggested Activity: Mount Tarawera and Orakei Korako Thermal Explorer by Floatplane
Take in a spectacular aerial perspective of Rotorua’s volcanic landscapes as you fly over craters, lakes, and vividly coloured geothermal terrain shaped by powerful natural forces. Landing at Orakei Korako adds another layer to the experience, allowing you to explore steaming terraces, geysers, and mineral-rich formations in one of the region’s most striking geothermal areas.

Spend the day discovering Rotorua’s geothermal activity and rich Māori heritage. From steaming vents to forest adventures, the region offers a wide range of unique experiences.

Included: Te Pā Tū Māori cultural experience with dinner
Enjoy an immersive evening of storytelling, performance, and traditional cuisine. This experience provides a meaningful connection to Māori culture in a beautiful forest setting.

Suggested Activity: Rotorua Canopy Tours Zipline Experience
Glide through ancient native forest on a network of ziplines and suspended bridges high above the ground. This eco-adventure combines adrenaline with fascinating insights into conservation and native wildlife.

Suggested Activity: Polynesian Spa Deluxe Lake Spa
Relax in mineral-rich thermal pools overlooking Lake Rotorua, surrounded by natural elements and tranquil scenery. The soothing waters and serene environment create the perfect balance to your day of exploration.

Journey south through the heart of the North Island, where volcanic landscapes and rural towns unfold along the way. This scenic travel day brings you to New Zealand’s vibrant capital.

Included: Private transfer from accommodation to coach depot
Begin your day with a convenient transfer to your departure point. This ensures a smooth and hassle-free transition.

Included: InterCity coach travel from Rotorua to Wellington
Travel past Lake Taupō and Tongariro National Park, home to dramatic volcanic peaks. The journey showcases some of the North Island’s most iconic landscapes.

Included: Private transfer from station to accommodation
Arrive in Wellington and transfer directly to your hotel. This service allows you to settle in comfortably after your journey.

Explore Wellington before crossing the Cook Strait to the South Island. Today combines cultural highlights with one of the world’s most scenic ferry journeys.

Included: Private transfer from accommodation to ferry terminal
Travel comfortably to the ferry terminal in time for your departure. This service ensures a smooth and stress-free start to your crossing.

Included: Interislander ferry from Wellington to Picton
Cruise through the Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds with breathtaking coastal views. This journey is widely regarded as one of the most scenic ferry crossings in the world.

Included: Transfer from Picton ferry terminal to accommodation
Arrive in Picton and transfer directly to your hotel. This seamless service allows you to relax after your journey.

Suggested Activity: Interislander Premium Lounge Experience
Upgrade your ferry crossing with access to a premium lounge offering comfortable seating and uninterrupted views. Enjoy locally sourced refreshments while taking in the stunning scenery in a relaxed, quiet setting.

Travel south along the Marlborough and Kaikōura coastline, where ocean views meet rugged mountains. This scenic route offers opportunities to spot wildlife and enjoy coastal landscapes.

Included: Transfer from accommodation to coach stop
Begin your journey with a convenient transfer to your departure point. This ensures a stress-free start to the day.

Included: InterCity coach travel from Picton to Christchurch
Journey along one of the South Island’s most scenic coastal routes. The drive showcases dramatic landscapes and marine life along the way.

Included: Private transfer from coach stop to accommodation
Arrive in Christchurch and transfer directly to your hotel. This service provides a seamless end to your travel day.

Travel from Christchurch into the heart of the South Island, where wide open plains give way to vivid alpine lakes and towering mountain scenery. This is a day of dramatic contrasts, with every stretch of the journey revealing some of New Zealand’s most iconic natural landscapes.

Included: Small group tour from Christchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook via Lake Tekapo
Journey through the Canterbury Plains and Mackenzie Basin, stopping to admire the brilliant turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and the famous Church of the Good Shepherd. As the road continues towards Aoraki/Mount Cook, the mountain scenery becomes increasingly dramatic, creating a spectacular approach to the country’s highest peak.

Suggested Activity: Glacier Explorers
Head out onto the Tasman Glacier terminal lake for a rare opportunity to see ancient icebergs floating beneath towering glacial cliffs in a truly remarkable alpine setting. This experience offers an up-close look at the scale and raw beauty of New Zealand’s longest glacier, while also giving insight into the powerful forces that continue to shape the landscape.

Suggested Activity: Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Museum and Theatre Explorer Pass
Learn more about the remarkable life of Sir Edmund Hillary and the mountaineering history of the Aoraki/Mount Cook region through engaging exhibits and immersive presentations. With museum displays, film screenings, and a digital dome theatre, this experience adds cultural depth and historical context to the surrounding alpine environment.

Depart the alpine region and travel south to Dunedin, a city rich in heritage and character. The journey features changing landscapes and coastal highlights.

Included: Small group transfer from Mount Cook to Dunedin
Travel via scenic towns and landmarks including the Moeraki Boulders. The route offers a mix of natural wonders and historic charm.

Suggested Activity: Speight’s Brewery Tour and Dinner
Discover the heritage of one of New Zealand’s oldest breweries with a guided tour through the historic Speight’s site in Dunedin. Enjoy tastings of locally brewed beers before sitting down to a hearty two-course dinner in the Alehouse.

Journey through Southland’s rolling countryside towards Fiordland. Today introduces you to one of New Zealand’s most tranquil regions.

Included: Dunedin to Te Anau transfer with Trips & Tramps
Travel through classic Southland landscapes, passing rural towns, fertile farmland and the mighty Clutha River on your journey to Te Anau. This scenic drive offers a relaxed introduction to the region before arriving at the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

Explore Te Anau at leisure
Set on the shores of Lake Te Anau, this peaceful town is the perfect base for discovering Fiordland’s natural beauty. Enjoy lakeside walks, wildlife encounters or outdoor activities, with easy access to renowned tracks like the Milford and Kepler.

Suggested Activity: Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Cruise across Lake Te Anau before exploring a fascinating underground cave system filled with limestone formations and flowing water. Glide silently through the darkness to witness a magical display of glowworms lighting up the cave ceiling.

Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound before travelling to Queenstown. Towering peaks and cascading waterfalls define today’s highlights.

Included: Milford Sound coach and cruise tour from Te Anau to Queenstown with lunch
Travel along the spectacular Milford Road from Te Anau, with scenic photo stops and expert commentary highlighting the region’s unique landscapes. Cruise the full length of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea, where towering peaks, waterfalls and native wildlife create an unforgettable Fiordland experience.

Enjoy a full day in Queenstown, surrounded by mountains and lake views. This vibrant destination offers both relaxation and adventure.

Included: TSS Earnslaw cruise and Walter Peak gourmet BBQ dinner
Cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak High Country Farm, surrounded by stunning alpine scenery. Enjoy a gourmet BBQ dinner featuring local produce, followed by a traditional farm demonstration before returning to Queenstown under the evening sky.

Suggested Activity: Shotover Jet Canyon Jet Boat Ride
Experience an adrenaline-fuelled ride through the narrow Shotover River canyons, skimming past rugged rock walls at high speed. Hold on tight for the famous 360-degree spins that make this one of Queenstown’s most thrilling and iconic adventures.

Suggested Activity: Queenstown Skyline Gondola Ride
Ride the Skyline Gondola to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountain ranges. It’s a relaxing and scenic way to take in the beauty of this alpine destination from above.

Travel across the Southern Alps via Haast Pass into the wild West Coast. This journey showcases dramatic changes in landscape and scenery.

Included: Queenstown to Franz Josef transfer with Glacier Shuttles
Travel from Queenstown through the Southern Alps, passing crystal-clear lakes and dramatic mountain landscapes before crossing the scenic Haast Pass. As you reach the West Coast, the scenery transforms into lush rainforest, rugged coastline and powerful waterfalls on the way to Franz Josef.

Explore Franz Josef at leisure
Discover one of the world’s most unique glacier regions, where ice descends into temperate rainforest near sea level. With scenic walks, viewpoints and optional adventures like helicopter flights or heli-hikes, Franz Josef offers a memorable mix of nature and exploration.

Included: Glacier Valley Shuttle
Travel up the Franz Josef Valley to access walking tracks and glacier viewpoints with ease. From the road end, enjoy a short walk through alpine scenery to a viewing platform with impressive views of the glacier.

Included: Franz Josef to Greymouth transfer via Hokitika
Travel north along the rugged West Coast, passing through Hokitika, a historic town known for its pounamu and gold mining heritage. This scenic journey showcases coastal landscapes and rich history before arriving in Greymouth.

Included: TranzAlpine Scenic Train from Greymouth to Christchurch
Experience one of the world’s great rail journeys as you cross the Southern Alps through Arthur’s Pass National Park. Enjoy ever-changing scenery from lush rainforest and river valleys to expansive plains as you travel to Christchurch.

Included: Shared transfer from Christchurch train station to accommodation
On arrival in Christchurch, you’ll be met and transferred directly to your city centre accommodation. This convenient service ensures a smooth and hassle-free end to your journey.

Your New Zealand adventure comes to an end in Christchurch. Take time to reflect on the unforgettable landscapes and experiences before departure.

Included: Private transfer from accommodation to Christchurch Airport
Enjoy a seamless transfer to the airport for your onward journey. This final service ensures a smooth and stress-free farewell.